Counterbalancing assembly for air motivated device

ABSTRACT

This invention is a counterbalancing assembly for air motivated devices such as windmills, for use in pumping water or other liquids from wells. The assembly includes arms extending outwardly from opposite sides of the reciprocating lifting rod of the windmill. The arms are affixed to rotatable discs, each of which is provided with a flexible member secured to the disc periphery and extending to a cross member secured to the lifting rod and movable therewith. In order to counterbalance the weight of the lifting rod and the material being pumped, the arms of the assembly are constructed of telescopic sections to increase or decrease the arm length to effect the desired leverage.

Jan. 1, 1974 COUNTERBALANCING ASSEMBLY FOR AIR MOTIVATED DEVICE [76] inventor: John L. Berggren, 1148 Clark Ave.,

Billings, Mont. 59102 [22] Filed: Oct. 10, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 295,841

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 85.432, Oct. 30,

1970, abandoned.

52 us. Cl. 74/590 [51] Int. Cl. F03d 11/00 [58] Field of Search 74/590, 591; 417/35,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 685,617 10/1901 Koch 74/590 890.389 6/1908 Wilson 74/590 Primary ExaminerManuel A. Antonakas Assistant ExaminerF. D. Shoemaker Attorney-B. Edward Shlesinger, Jr. et a1.

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT This invention is a counterbalancing assembly for air motivated devices such as windmills, for use in pumping water or other liquids from wells. The assembly includes arms extending outwardly from opposite sides of the reciprocating lifting rod of the windmill. The arms are affixed to rotatable discs, each of which is provided with a flexible member secured to the disc periphery and extending to a cross member secured to the lifting rod and movable therewith. In order to counterbalance the weight of the lifting rod and the material being pumped, the arms of the assembly are constructed of telescopic sections to increase or decrease the arm length to effect the desired leverage.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Pmiminm ism 3.782.222

PAIEN'I'EUM 1 mm HEN 2 1f 2 Fig. 4

Fig.5

Fig.7

COUNTERBALANCING ASSEMBLY FOR AIR MOTIVATED DEVICE This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 85,432, filed Oct. 30, 1970 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS As set out in my copending application Ser. No. 85,432, filed Oct. 30, 1970, now abandoned windmills presently in use depend to a large extent on the momentum picked up by the windwheel on the down stroke to assist in lifting the rod and water or other liquid on the upward or pumping stroke. In the case of fluctuating wind, however, the windmill will often stop on the upward stroke and, due to the weight of the lifting rod and the weight of the water or other liquid being pumped, the lifting rod will reverse direction and permit the rod to drop to the lowermost position of the stroke. It is then necessary that the windmill lift the rod and water the entire length of its pumping stroke and a heavy gust of wind is required to initiate the pumping operation since the entire load must be lifted from the bottom of the well.

Various counterbalancing means have been employed in the past for overcoming this problem, such as th weights disclosed in application Ser. No. 85,432, now abandoned to facilitate operation of the lifting rod for pumping water or other liquids.

However, the use of counterbalancing weights is not practical in installations where the assemblies are placed near the top of a windmill tower in order to avoid tampering and interruption of the normal operation thereof by objects on the ground. In view of the placement of these assemblies at such heights, the lifting of weights to the upper portion of the tower involves a tedious and difficult task, particularly where heavy weights must be applied to a number of windmills, and the assemblies calibrated.

It is an object of this invention to provide a counterbalancing assembly for installation on an air motivated device such as a windmill, wherein the counterbalancing effect is obtained by use of arms extending outwardly from the tower in order to effect the desired leverage for balancing the weight of the windmill lifting rod and the liquid lifted thereby.

Another object is to provide an assembly of the character described wherein the arms are fixed to, and movable with rotatable discs actuated through flexible means trained over the rotatable discs to the lifting rod, the arms extending outwardly from both sides from the lifting rod.

Further objects are to provide a counterbalancing assembly of the character described which obviates the need for the application of heavy weights thereto, thereby facilitating the installation thereof at any point along the height of the windmill tower; to provide a counterbalancing assembly which comprises multipart telescopic sections in order to permit extension and retraction of the arm to counterbalance the weight of the lifting rod and liquid pumped by the windmill, and to provide counterbalancing assembly as described wherein a weighting material may be added to one or more of said arm sections.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description of the presently preferred form of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a fragmentary elevational view of the counterbalancing assembly of the present invention, illustrating its use;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the disc and arm forming a part of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the present invention, showing the assembly of the present invention with the arms in retracted position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing the arms of the assembly in fully extended position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section of a modified form of an arm for use in the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF FORM OF INVENTION ILLUSTRATED IN FIGS. 1 TO 6 In FIG. ll, there is illustrated a standard windmill installation including a tower generally designated 10 having upright members 12 and cross members 14, the upright members extending in converging relationship to each other at the top of the tower. A lifting rod is indicated at 16 which extends upwardly to a gear box 18 which is in operative engagement with a windwheel 20 for effecting reciprocating movement of lifting rod 16 in a well known manner.

In accordance with the present invention, a counterbalancing assembly 22 is preferably mounted on tower proximate the upper end thereof. Assembly 22 includes a cross arm 24, the mid portion of which is provided with a tubular extension 26 which is fixed to reciprocating rod 16 extending therethrough.

Assembly 22 further includes a pair of pulley-like discs designated 28 and 30 rotatably supported by yoke members 32 and 34 respectively which are fixed to a transverse member 14. In order to permit rotation of discs 28 and 30, yokes 32 and 34 are provided with pins 36 and 38 extending between the yoke arms, the pins extending axially through the center of the discs.

Flexible connecting members such as cable or rope are provided at 40 and 42 for connecting discs 28 and 30 to cross arm 24. As shown to advantage in FIGS. 1 and 3, cables 40 and 42 are trained over discs 28 and 30 and engage in annular peripheral recesses 44 and 46. The cables extend over the uppermost extremities of the discs and are secured in any suitable manner at 48 and 50 to a lateral lower portion of the discs opposite the point of engagement of the cables extending upwardly from cross arm 24, with the discs.

Arms generally designated 52 and 54 are welded or secured in any other suitable manner to the lower flat portions of discs 28 and 30, as indicated at 56 and 58. Arms 52 and 54 each comprise a plurality of sections designated 60, 62 and 64, which sections are in telescoping relationship with each other. In order to permit the sections to be positioned in any desired relationship with respect to each other, there are provided set screws 66 and 68 to hold the sections in a set position of adjustment. By moving the arm sections to an extended position, the leverage of the arm is increased,

with resultant increase in the counterbalancing effect to offset the weight of the lifting rod and liquid raised thereby. Also, by telescoping the sections inwardly, the counterbalancing effect may be decreased. Of course, where conditions require, any number of sections may be employed in order to effect optimum counterbalancing of the weight of the lifting rod of the windmill.

As shown in FIG. 1, arms 48 and 50 extend outwardly from discs 28 and 30, and from lifting rod 16. The arms are so oriented that when lifting rod 16 is at the upper limit of its up stroke, as shown by the full line position of the cross arm, in FIG. 1, the arms are in a substantially horizontal position. As the lifting rod moves to the lower limit of its down stoke, as shown by the dotted line position of cross arm 24 in FIG. 1, arms 52 and 54 move through an arc of approximately 30, as shown by the dotted lines position of the arms.

OPERATION In use of the counterbalancing assembly of the present invention, the assembly is preferably installed near the top of the windmill tower in order to prevent interference with the operation thereof either by humans or animals, and also to avoid any possibility of contact with materials or objects on the ground, snow, etc. In addition to these advantages, since the arms are movable upon actuation of the lifting rods, it can be readily determined at long distances whether or not the windmill and assembly are operative just by observing the movement of these arms during a wind.

Once the assembly of this invention is installed, arms 52 and 54 may be adjusted to compensate for the weight of the lifting rod and balance the system and facilitate operation of the windmill. As shown in FIG. 1 upon downward movement of the lifting rod, arms 52 and 54 move upwardly in an arc by virtue of the fixed engagement thereof with the lower portions of discs 28 and 30. Upon upward movement of the lifting rod, arms 52 and 54 move downwardly into a substantially horizontal position when reaching the limit of the up stroke of the lifting rod.

DESCRIPTION OF FORM OF INVENTION ILLUSTRATED IN FIG. 7

In FIG. 7, there is illustrated a modified form of the present invention, and more specifically a modified form of arm construction which is generally designated 70. In this form of the invention, arm 70 comprises a plurality of telescoping arm sections 72, 74 and 76. Set screws are indicated at 78 and 80 for holding the arm sections in a predetermined relationship. In this form of the invention, the end arm section 76 is provided with a weighting material 82 which may partially or fully fill the section. This weighting material may be granular, solid or liquid, such as sand, alcohol or other nonfreezing liquid, etc. The operation and use of the arm in this form ofthe invention is the same as set out above in connection with the form of invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6.

With the apparatus of the present invention, the counterbalancing assembly may be readily installed anywhere along the height of the tower without the use of heavy weights heretofore required. Additionally, any desired number of telescoping arm sections may be used depending upon the requirements of the individual application, which sections may be easily adjusted to effect balance of the system by extension or retraction of the arm sections.

With the apparatus of the present invention, particularly where the assembly is considerably spaced from the ground, the operativeness of a windmill may be readily determined at great distances therefrom, by observing whether or not there is movement of the arms in response to rotation of the windwheel. In this way, the operation of many windmills may be periodically checked in a very short period of time simply through visual observation.

While there has been herein shown and described the presently preferred forms of this invention, it is to be understood that such has been done for purposes of illustrationonly, and that various changes may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A counterbalancing assembly for air motivated devices having a tower, a windwheel mounted atop the tower and a reciprocating lifting rod disposed within the tower, the assembly including:

a. a cross arm extending transversely of, and fixedly connected at approximately its midpoint to the lifting rod,

b. members rotatably mounted on said tower on opposite sides of the lifting rod,

c. flexible members connected at one end to said cross arm,

d. the opposite end of said flexible members being engaged with said members for rotating the latter,

e. arms fixed to each of said members and movable therewith,

f. said arms extending outwardly from said members and said lifting rod,

g. whereby said arms counterbalance the weight of said lifting rod and liquid being lifted, to maintain the lifting rod in a partially lifted position in the event the windmill ceases operation during the pump stroke of the lifting rod.

2. The counterbalancing assembly of claim 1,

wherein:

a. said arms are extensible.

3. The counterbalancing assembly of claim 2, wherein-:

a. said arms include telescopic sections, and

b. means for maintaining said arm sections in predetermined relative position.

4. The counterbalancing assembly of claim 3,

wherein:

a. at least one of said telescopic sections includes a weighting material.

5. The counterbalancing assembly of claim 1,

wherein:

a. said members include discs, and

b. said discs are provided with annular recesses to receive said flexible members.

6. A counterbalancing assembly for an air motivated device having a tower, a windwheel mounted atop the tower and a reciprocating lifting rod disposed within the tower, the assembly including:

a. a cross arm extending transversely of, and fixedly connected at approximately its midpoint to the lifting rod,

b. members having arcuate portions rotatably mounted on said tower,

c. flexible members connected at one end to said cross arm,

d. said flexible members being trained over the pepump stroke of the lifting rod.

riphery of said arcuate portions, 7. The counterbalancing assembly of claim 6, e. the other end of said flexible members being fixed wherein:

to said members, a. said extensible arms comprise a plurality of telef. elongated arms secured to said members, 5 scopic arm sections, and g. said elongated arms extending outwardly from said b. means for retaining said arm sections in predetermembers and said lifting rod, mined relative position. h. said arms being extensible, 8. The counterbalancing assembly of claim 7, with i. whereby said arms counterbalance the weight to the addition of:

said lifting rod and liquid being lifted, to maintain 10 a. weighting material within at least one of said telethe lifting rod in a partially lifted position in the scopic sections. event that the windmill ceases operation during the 

1. A counterbalancing assembly for air motivated devices having a tower, a windwheel mounted atop the tower and a reciprocating lifting rod disposed within the tower, the assembly including: a. a cross arm extending transversely of, and fixedly connected at approximately its midpoint to the lifting rod, b. members roTatably mounted on said tower on opposite sides of the lifting rod, c. flexible members connected at one end to said cross arm, d. the opposite end of said flexible members being engaged with said members for rotating the latter, e. arms fixed to each of said members and movable therewith, f. said arms extending outwardly from said members and said lifting rod, g. whereby said arms counterbalance the weight of said lifting rod and liquid being lifted, to maintain the lifting rod in a partially lifted position in the event the windmill ceases operation during the pump stroke of the lifting rod.
 2. The counterbalancing assembly of claim 1, wherein: a. said arms are extensible.
 3. The counterbalancing assembly of claim 2, wherein: a. said arms include telescopic sections, and b. means for maintaining said arm sections in predetermined relative position.
 4. The counterbalancing assembly of claim 3, wherein: a. at least one of said telescopic sections includes a weighting material.
 5. The counterbalancing assembly of claim 1, wherein: a. said members include discs, and b. said discs are provided with annular recesses to receive said flexible members.
 6. A counterbalancing assembly for an air motivated device having a tower, a windwheel mounted atop the tower and a reciprocating lifting rod disposed within the tower, the assembly including: a. a cross arm extending transversely of, and fixedly connected at approximately its midpoint to the lifting rod, b. members having arcuate portions rotatably mounted on said tower, c. flexible members connected at one end to said cross arm, d. said flexible members being trained over the periphery of said arcuate portions, e. the other end of said flexible members being fixed to said members, f. elongated arms secured to said members, g. said elongated arms extending outwardly from said members and said lifting rod, h. said arms being extensible, i. whereby said arms counterbalance the weight to said lifting rod and liquid being lifted, to maintain the lifting rod in a partially lifted position in the event that the windmill ceases operation during the pump stroke of the lifting rod.
 7. The counterbalancing assembly of claim 6, wherein: a. said extensible arms comprise a plurality of telescopic arm sections, and b. means for retaining said arm sections in predetermined relative position.
 8. The counterbalancing assembly of claim 7, with the addition of: a. weighting material within at least one of said telescopic sections. 